SHAYDA TO REP OZ FOR BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE AT THE ACADEMY AWARDS

Australian drama SHAYDA, from Iranian-Australian debut writer and director Noora Niasari, has been announced as the official Australian submission for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.

SHAYDA had its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival’s World Cinema Dramatic Competition in January, where it won the World Cinema Audience Award. The film then opened the Melbourne International Film Festival and was the closing-night screening at Locarno Film Festival, screening for 8,000 in the Piazza Grande. It is next set to bow at TIFF on September 13th and will be in Australian cinemas from October 5th 2023.

Produced by Vincent Sheehan and Noora Niasari and executive-produced by Cate Blanchett, Andrew Upton and Coco Francini of Dirty Films, potent drama stars Cannes Best Actress winner Zar Amir Ebrahimi (Holy Spider) alongside Osamah Sami, Leah Purcell, Jillian Nguyen, Mojean Aria, Rina Mousavi & Selina Zahednia.

A young Iranian mother and her six-year-old daughter find refuge in an Australian women’s shelter during the two weeks of Iranian New Year (Nowruz) which is celebrated as a time of renewal and rebirth. Aided by the strong community of women at the shelter they seek their freedom in this new world of possibilities, only to find themselves facing the violence they tried so hard to escape.

SHAYDA is the directorial debut of Tehran-born, Australia-raised Niasari, a writer-director and co-founder of Parandeh Pictures, whose short films and documentaries have screened at film festivals worldwide. Of the selection, Noora said, “I see this film as an open invitation for audiences to recognize and celebrate the courage and resilience of Iranian women. Australian women and all women fighting for freedom and independence from domestic violence. And so, to have SHAYDA represent Australia on the world stage with this submission gives me an immense sense of hope and pride.”

Australia only infrequently sends non-English language films to the Academy Awards. With only one Australian nomination in the Foreign Language category in the past, Bentley Dean and Martin Butler’s Tanna in 2017, and a steady stream of submissions in the category since 2012, the selection represents an exciting persistence in the diversification of Australian cinema.

Representatives at Dirty Films said, “Our hearts immediately connected to the story of Shayda. Its central theme of defining one’s own path is deeply rooted in the Australian psyche, but Noora Niasari has created art for a global audience. This is a powerful and resonant story of family that couldn’t be more timely, and we’re so proud that audiences are responding so enthusiastically as it embarks on an international journey.” 

Producer Vincent Sheehan said: “Seeing festival audiences around the globe be so affected by Shayda's powerful story of female empowerment and equally moved by the films' celebration of Iranian culture has been a rewarding experience so far. And now, as the official Australian submission, there is an opportunity for the story of Shayda to reach many more”

An Origma 45 production produced in association with Dirty Films and Parandeh Pictures, SHAYDA received major production investment from Screen Australia in association with The 51 Fund and was financed with support from VicScreen and the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) Premiere Fund.

FIRST LOOK: PAUL HOGAN AS 'PAUL HOGAN' IN THE VERY EXCELLENT MR DUNDEE

One of Australia's favourite film larrakins is set for a big screen return. Paul Hogan, the Lightning Ridge-born comedian who transformed from Harbour Bridge rivetter to Australian TV legend to global superstar in the wake of his blockbuster 1986 comedy Crocodile Dundee, plays a fictionalised version of himself in The Very Excellent Mr Dundee.

The meta-comedy will arrive in Australian cinemas on April 30 via Transmission Films, with international distribution to be confirmed. "Paul Hogan is an Australian icon, and we're delighted to continue our association with this living legend,” said Transmission's joint Managing Directors, Andrew Mackie and Richard Payten.

Directed by Dean Murphy, who previously worked with Paul on Strange Bedfellows (2004), Charlie & Boots (2009) and That’s Not My Dog! (2018), The Very Excellent Mr Hogan features the actor on the brink of receiving a Knighthood for services to comedy. “Don’t do anything to mess this up”, his manager tells him. However, despite all his best efforts, the next six weeks sees his name and reputation hilariously destroyed.

“Audiences always have a great time with Paul when he’s on screen, but this film is particularly special," says Murphy. "People ask what's true and what's not. What I do know is fact is certainly funnier than fiction.”

A line-up of some of the greatest comedy stars of their generations have come on-board the project, including British comedy legend John Cleese, American funnyman Chevy Chase and local stars Shane Jacobson and Julia Morris. Also joining 'Hoges' on-screen will be Australian icon Olivia Newton-John, comedian Jim Jefferies, Die Hard’s Reginald Veljohnson, Seinfeld’s Wayne Knight and actress Rachael Carpani.

Since Crocodile Dundee, directed by Peter Faiman, and its hit 1988 sequel, directed by John Cornell, Hogan has worked from bases in both Australia and the U.S. His Hollywood career faltered after the disappointing reception afforded his 1990 afterlife comedy, Almost an Angel. He returned to his homeland to make the comedy Lightning Jack (1994) and family adventure, Flipper (1996), before a third, ill-fated attempt to resurrect his once-popular outback hero in 2001's Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles. He has since worked steadily in Australia with Murphy on feel-good films that appeal to his avid fanbase.